The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is pleased to announce the establishment of Youth Peer Education Network (Y-PEER) in the Philippines. Y-PEER is a groundbreaking and comprehensive youth-to-youth initiative pioneered by UNFPA. It is a network of more than 500 non- profit organizations and governmental institutions. Its membership includes over 7000 young people from 38 countries who work in many areas surrounding adolescent reproductive health.

The global network, which is constantly expanding, consists of country networks from Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia. The Middle East, North and East Africa, and most recently Brazil. Members of Y-PEER include young people who are active peer educators, trainers of trainers and youth advocates for adolescent sexual and reproductive health. These young people contribute to and benefit from the resource materials, tools, training programs and campaigns provided by the Y-PEER networks.

As part of UNFPA’s commitment to work with and for the young people, the program is expanding in Asia and Pacific Region. Philippines is one of the pilot countries for the said project.

As such, this is a call for membership to the Youth Peer Education Network (Y-PEER). The network shall be composed of not less than 25 members from different regions of the country. Interested organizations must complete the attached form and send it to Ms. Albano of the UNFPA Philippines Country Office on or before 13 February 2009 with the address shown below.

Attention: Ms. Emee Lei E. Albano
Youth Advocate, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
30/ F Yuchengco Tower 1, RCBC Plaza
6819 Ayala cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue
1229 Makati City, PHILIPPINES

Form and briefer may also be downloaded from the website (www.unfpa.org.ph). For further inquiries, please call (63 2) 901 0331/ +639178593531 or email albano@unfpa.org

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is now announcing the conduct of its 1st World Population Day Writing Contest…

Along with the announcement, the UNFPA also bared its rules so to help the applicants informed and be knowledgeable of what would be the criteria as well as the procedure that should be followed.

Based on the guidelines and contest rules issued by the UNFPA, an applicant should be a resident of the Philippines, Filipino, 15-24 years of age and not a published writer or a professional journalist. The content of the essay must be original, have not been published in print or online, written in English language and should contain 1000 up to 1,500 words.

The said entries will be adjudged anonymously by a panel of judges authorized by the UNFPA with the following criteria: 50% for the substance and originality; and 50% for the writing style, composition, and organization.

In line with the celebration of the 2008 World Population Day, the write-up should focus on the theme: “Family Planning: It’s a Right, let’s Make it Real.”

The winner will be notified of the winning entry and will receive a cash prize of P5,000.00 and a Certificate of Recognition during the World Population Day Forum in Makati City on July 11, 2008. Those who came from the province will be given travel and accommodation expenses shouldered by the UNFPA.

Entry forms along with your composition should be submitted via e-mail albano@unfpa.org or through courier 30th Floor, Yuchengco Tower 1, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City addressed to Ms. Emee Lei E. Albano, until June 22, 2008.

For additional information you may contact Ms. Albano at numbers 02-901-0331, 09178593537 or e-mail at albano@unfpa.org.